PTU FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About Pharmacy Technicians University — General information for those considering the program

What is Pharmacy Technicians University?

Pharmacy Technicians University is an online, interactive educational course designed to help enrollees learn to become safe, efficient, and overall great pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy Technicians University will also prepare enrollees to pass any national or state certification exam. The course allows users to go through the content at their own pace. Plus, there are pacing questions, case studies, educational exercises, and more to help cement the concepts to memory, as well as keep the experience fresh and enjoyable.

I would like to become a pharmacy technician. How can Pharmacy Technicians University help me?

Pharmacy Technicians University gives you top-notch, current information you need to know to work in a pharmacy. As a graduate of Pharmacy Technicians University, you’ll be ready for the workplace and will be prepared to pass any state or national pharmacy technician exam, including for certification.

I am already a pharmacy technician. What can Pharmacy Technicians University offer me?

Pharmacy Technicians University helps you learn more about the pharmacy profession and teaches you to become more efficient in your workplace. In addition, the course helps refresh your knowledge and keep you up-to-date on the pharmacy industry. And, if needed, Pharmacy Technicians University will prepare you to pass any pharmacy technician certification exam.

What does Pharmacy Technicians University prepare me for?

One goal of Pharmacy Technicians University is to equip pharmacy technicians to pass national certification exams. It can also prepare you for any employer-based exam and will help you ready yourself for the pharmacy, whether you’ve never stepped foot in a pharmacy before, or are a seasoned pharmacy technician.

Will I be nationally certified after I complete Pharmacy Technicians University?

After completing Pharmacy Technicians University, you will need to register with Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or National Health Career Association (NHA) to take one of the national certification exams. Pharmacy Technicians University is designed to prepare you for this. Check with your employer and/or state to see if they require a specific exam to be passed. Some states only accept technicians that are nationally certified by PTCB; while others accept national certification by either PTCB or NHA (ExCPT).

How will Pharmacy Technicians University help me meet my state requirements?

Pharmacy Technicians University covers topics that surround pharmacy practice and impact the role of the pharmacy technician. It includes, but is not limited to, drug information resources, laws and regulations, medical abbreviations, calculations, pharmacology, medication errors, and prescription processing.

Is Pharmacy Technicians University an ASHP/ACPE accredited course?

The 80-Hour and 110-hour PTU 101 programs from Pharmacy Technicians University are not ASHP/ACPE accredited. ASHP/ACPE accreditation is not yet mandated and the date for required accreditation has been pushed back to 2019. If you are interested in learning more regarding an organizational subscription to the PTU National Standards accredited program, please contact us for more information.

How does the content of Pharmacy Technicians University compare to the ASHP Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technicians, PTCE exam blue print, and ExCPT exam blueprint?

Pharmacy Technicians University’s is created based upon ASHP’s Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technician Training 3rd Edition. In addition, TRC Healthcare ensures the curriculum covers all content outlined in the PTCE and ExCPT exam blueprints.

How long does it take to complete Pharmacy Technicians University?

Pharmacy Technicians University is a self-paced course, so the time to complete will vary between individuals. The number of hours is also highly dependent on your specific goals and the requirements involved in reaching any employer, state, or national certification goals. Enrollees who have experience within the pharmacy may be able to complete the program and pass the Final Exam within 30 to 50 hours, while enrollees who have little to no experience may take up to 100 hours or more to complete.

Do I need any books to complete Pharmacy Technicians University?

No. Pharmacy Technicians University is an online, web-based course. Everything you need is included in the course.

If I don't pass a module exam, can I take it again?

Yes. You can re-take module exams. If you don’t pass a module exam, you can go over the materials in that module again, and have the opportunity to pass when you’re ready.

Can I go back and review once I've completed a module and passed the exam?

Yes. You can always go back and review completed modules. You can also go back in a module you’re currently taking, even in the middle, and review content you’ve already viewed.

For Current Enrollees — Answers to “What do I do if…” questions and information on what to expect

How can I document my progress through Pharmacy Technicians University?

Inside the course, your Curriculum Organizer will automatically record your progress, as well as exam scores, as you progress through the course. This is also where you launch new modules as you complete previous module exams.

Employers providing Pharmacy Technicians University have the option to view your progress and scores. Pharmacy Technicians University includes many tools for supervisors, managers, and employers to monitor progress through the program. This is one of many reasons that employers and managers choose to provide (and pay for) Pharmacy Technicians University for their current or future employees. PTU also provides full documentation of completion for individuals wishing to provide documentation to a potential employer.

Can I “pause” the course if I need to?

If you are going to pause the program for a few minutes, you can let the current slide finish (it automatically pauses after each one), or use the pause button to pause in the middle of a slide. If you need to “pause” the course for a longer time period, you can simply close the course window, and your Curriculum Organizer will remember where you left off. When you launch the module again, you will be directed to the last slide you viewed before. You can also use the table of contents at the left of the course to go to whichever slide you would like to continue from.

What will happen if I need to quit during a module or lose internet connection?

If you need to temporarily quit Pharmacy Technicians University, you can simply close the course. When you launch the module again, you will be directed to where you left off. If you lose your connection to the internet, you will be warned that your progress may not be recorded. Since the content modules are not required, you can continue through the material. In rare cases, if you lose your internet connection while taking a unit or module exam, you may lose your progress and answers in the exam.

What do I do if a module won't load?

In extremely rare cases, a module exam may say “loading…” and will not load. It these cases, you can close the course and restart it. Often clearing your browser’s cache and/or history will also solve this issue.

What happens once I complete all of the modules in Pharmacy Technicians University?

After you have completed all of the modules in Pharmacy Technicians University, you’ll take the final exam. Once you pass the final exam, you’ll become a Pharmacy Technicians University graduate.

Once I graduate from Pharmacy Technicians University, what do I do next?

What you do after graduating from will depend on your goals as a pharmacy technician. If you plan on becoming a nationally certified pharmacy technician, then you’ll need to register and take a national certification exam. You’ll need to check with your employer and/or state to see if they require a specific exam to be passed. Some only accept pharmacy technicians that are nationally certified by PTCB, while others accept national certification by either PTCB or NHA. To sign-up for the PTCB exam, you can apply online at www.ptcb.org. Or to sign-up for the NHA (ExCPT) exam, you can apply at www.nhanow.com.

When do my access codes to Pharmacy Technicians University expire?

Pharmacy Technicians University has a “subscription life” of one year from the date of enrollment. You’ll need to check with your employer, educational program, and/or state for additional requirements. Some require technician training to be completed in less than one year.

No. Pharmacy Technicians University courses do not count as CE credits. However, if you need CE for your recertification or for your state, you can use Pharmacy Technician’s Letter from TRC Healthcare to get the CE you need. You can subscribe to Pharmacy Technician Letter here.

Is there a print version of Pharmacy Technicians University?

A printed version of Pharmacy Technicians University is not available. It would likely be more than 3,000 pages and would lose the interactive features. However, throughout the Pharmacy Technicians University modules, there are key points recap documents and worksheets that can be printed and saved. These are included with your Pharmacy Technicians University enrollment.

What if I have a question about the information presented in Pharmacy Technicians University?

Simply click the link on the left hand side of the Pharmacy Technicians University homepage or on your Curriculum Organizer page that says “Contact Us.” This will open a simple form where you can ask a question of the Pharmacy Technicians University editorial staff.

What do I do if I want to make a suggestion for material to be included in Pharmacy Technicians University?

Click the “Contact Us” link on the left-hand side of the Pharmacy Technicians University homepage or on your Curriculum Organizer page. This will open a simple form where you can make a content suggestion directly to the Pharmacy Technicians University editorial staff.

What are the technical requirements to view Pharmacy Technicians University online?

Pharmacy Technicians University is both an Adobe Flash and HTML5 based interactive program. It automatically runs the appropriate version depending on the device. It will run on any computer with Adobe Flash 10 or newer, or on mobile devices and browsers that support HTML5. This includes, but is not limited to, Microsoft Windows, Apple OSX, Linux, Google’s Android, and iOS operating systems. Some of the review sections of Pharmacy Technicians University are not yet HTML5 compatible, but the PTU team is working hard to update these as quickly as possible. Since the review sections are not required sections, it is possible to get through all of the Pharmacy Technicians University required content on a mobile device.
Since your Curriculum Organizer will keep your progress throughout the course, you can switch between a computer, laptop, and mobile device while going through the course, depending on what is most convenient for you at the time. You must also have an internet connection while taking the course. A broadband connection is preferable.

Can I download the content of Pharmacy Technicians University to my computer?

The interactive content cannot be downloaded. However, throughout all of the Pharmacy Technicians University modules, there are Key Points Recap documents that can be downloaded, saved, and printed. This is included at no additional charge with your Pharmacy Technicians University enrollment and you can refer to these documents for review even after your subscription expires.

Do I need a headset to listen to Pharmacy Technicians University?

Pharmacy Technicians University is narrated throughout, so your computer or device should have the ability to play audio. Speakers or headphones/ear buds will be needed. However, it is also possible to take the course without audio. Pharmacy Technicians University is fully “closed captioned” allowing enrollees to read the narration of the entire course as it plays. Simply click the “CC” button on screen to toggle this feature on and off.

Can I access Pharmacy Technicians University from anywhere?

You can access Pharmacy Technicians University anywhere you have a consistent internet connection while you take the course, and a device that can run the program. This can include public places that have WiFi connections or even a friend/family member’s computer. Since your Curriculum Organizer is maintained by Therapeutic Research Center servers, your progress will “travel” with you anywhere you can access the Pharmacy Technicians University homepage. Some employers, however, require that coursework be completed in specific training locations and/or at specific times.

Can I view Pharmacy Technicians University on my tablet or other mobile devices?

Yes. Mobile devices such as Android tablets and phones, iPhones, and iPads support HTML5. Pharmacy Technicians University is designed to work with this standard as well as Adobe Flash. Currently there are just a few, not required sections (reviews) that have not been updated to the HTML5 standard, but we are working hard and fast to update all of these. All content modules, module exams, unit exams, and the Final Exam are all HTML5 compatible, as well as many of the review games.